Geysha’s Breakfast Coffee and Lunch

Tell us a little about yourself. What inspired you to open Geysha’s Breakfast, Coffee & Lunch?

There are so many things I could share about myself, but I want to start by saying that my passion for cooking began when I was just 13 years old in the Dominican Republic. I remember going to a military school in my hometown because I wanted to take cooking classes. The director told me, “You’re not old enough to study here yet. Come back when you turn 16.” And that’s exactly what I did! At 16, I returned and took my first beginner cooking classes.

I came to the United States in 2004, and since then, I’ve always worked in restaurants while also preparing small buffets from home. In 2017, after I was able to stabilize my immigration status, I decided to continue my education, and in 2018, I enrolled in culinary school. Since then, I’ve worked in senior living communities and catering companies, while continuing to offer private catering services from my home.

What inspired me to open Geysha’s? The opportunity to grow in this country, achieve the American Dream, pursue my own dreams, and accomplish my goals. I’ve always dreamed of having a large catering company, but I know that to achieve something big, you have to start small.

This café holds all my dreams as a chef. It represents the dream of that little girl who once wanted to become a great cook. My wish is to offer people delicious, healthy, homemade food, prepared from scratch with lots of love and dedication.

I want someone to take a bite of one of our dishes and say, “Wow, this is the best food I’ve ever had!” Because for me, it’s not just about the flavor. It’s also about the presentation and every little detail on the plate. That’s what makes us different.

What was your journey like from having the idea for the business to finally opening the doors of Geysha’s in Georgetown?

The journey to bring this project to life was difficult, especially financially. I made so many phone calls trying to find the help I needed to make this dream a reality because it was a very complex project. The space was practically destroyed, and we had to rebuild everything from the ground up.

But despite all the challenges, I kept knocking on doors until I finally found the support I needed to move forward. I always knew Geysha’s Café would be well received in Georgetown because I felt the town had needed a place like this for a long time. There wasn’t another café like Geysha’s here, and I believed we could offer something different.

The best part of it all has been the support from the people who come to our restaurant every day, especially those who have already become our regular customers. Seeing that support means so much to me, especially after everything we went through to open our doors

Were there any challenges, lessons, or important moments along the way?

Yes, I faced many challenges. My biggest challenge throughout this journey was not having the capital I needed to get this project started. Because when you want to become an entrepreneur, sometimes you have to try and knock on doors you think are open, only to realize, when you need help the most, that they’re not. Sometimes people tell you no simply because they don’t believe in your project.

What did I learn? That sometimes a complete stranger can show you more compassion and be there to extend a helping hand and give you the support you need.

One of the most important moments for me was the day I received the call from the bank telling me my loan had been approved so I could begin building the restaurant. After so many difficulties, I could finally see a way forward. And even though we continued facing challenges and the budget went beyond what we had planned, by the grace of God, we were able to make it happen and finish everything.

What makes Geysha’s special, and what do you hope customers feel or experience when they visit?

What makes Geysha’s special is our Latino culture and our Dominican roots. It fills me with pride to know that there is a little piece of my homeland right here in Georgetown, a community where most people are not Latino. It brings me so much joy when someone walks through the door and says, “I want a Dominican breakfast with mangú,” or when they ask me, “Are you going to have chicharrón on the menu?” It makes me so happy to see people from different cultures enjoying our Dominican food!

My hope is that every customer who visits us enjoys a delicious breakfast with Dominican flavor, wants to come back, and recommends us to their friends and family. I want it to be an unforgettable experience, one that fills not only their stomachs but also their hearts. And I want them to keep coming back because of the quality of our food and the welcoming atmosphere of our café.

What did it mean to you to finally celebrate your grand opening and see your dream become a reality? 

For me, finally opening the doors of Geysha’s means so many things: a challenge overcome, an accomplishment, a dream come true, and a goal achieved. But it also gives me the certainty that God is with me and that He will not leave us alone.

I know we still have a long road ahead of us and that there will be challenges and difficult times along the way. But the road to success is never a straight line. There will always be setbacks and lessons that help us learn, grow, and keep moving forward.

Today, my vision has become a reality. Now we just have to keep pushing forward, working hard, and fighting for our dreams until we reach where we want to be: at the top, with several restaurants throughout Massachusetts.

What’s next for Geysha’s? What are you most excited about as you look toward the future? 

What’s next for Geysha’s? In the not-too-distant future, I would love to expand, go even further, and have a chain of cafés throughout Massachusetts, or maybe even across the United States. And who knows, perhaps one day around the world! The sky is the limit, and only God knows how far we can go.  As the word of God says, “Ask, and it shall be given to you.” I believe this is God’s plan, and only He knows how far He will take us.

Another one of my biggest goals is to build the catering company I have always dreamed of having. Because it’s always good to look beyond the horizon and keep dreaming big.